Second kidnap attempt reported in South Nevada County

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A second attempted abduction has been reported in South County in the Magnolia Road area, prompting Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal to issue a warning to local parents.

“The big issue we want to emphasize is we’ve had a couple reported occurrences,” Royal said Friday. “We’re encouraging parents to talk to their children about safety measures — if you see somebody you don’t know who approaches you inappropriately, leave quickly and tell your parents.”

A 16-year-old boy called 911 Thursday to report the new incident, which happened at about 4:40 p.m.

A man driving a black Dodge Durango approached the boy and told him he needed help finding something, Royal said. The boy told the suspect if he told him what the item was, he would keep an eye out.

The suspect reportedly then told the teen it did not matter what the item was and ordered him to get into the vehicle. The boy hid in the bushes and called 911 after calling his mother, Royal said.

The man left the area in his vehicle, described as an older Dodge Durango with oxidized paint on the roof and faded black paint. The vehicle had tinted windows, stock wheels and tires, and was not lifted.

The man could only be partially seen as the windows were tinted and he only had the window rolled down approximately one inch, Royal said. The juvenile described his profile as that of a larger man with very short hair or a bald head who was wearing black-framed sunglasses. The male reportedly also had a deep voice.

The first incident, which happened last Friday, involved a different vehicle but potentially the same suspect, Royal said.

A man in a black 4Runner reportedly tried to lure a 6-year-old-girl into his SUV March 7 by asking her to help him find his dog.

The girl was playing in the front yard of the property, which is at the end of a long driveway at the end of Knolls Drive.

The man drove up at just before 4:30 p.m. and told her he lost his dog and needed help finding it.

When she said no, he took off at a high rate of speed.

The man was described by the girl as being shaved bald, possibly Hispanic, in his mid-30s, with a light brown soul patch and wearing two silver hoop earrings. He also was described as having a powerful voice.

The vehicle was described as a newer-model 4Runner with silver accents and a roof rack, with semitinted windows and the emblem above the license plate.

Royal said that investigators are following up on leads that have been coming in, adding, “If you see a suspicious vehicle, especially in areas where children are present, give us a call. We just want our parents and children to be aware so we can keep them safe.”

Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s office at 530-265-7880.

Royal noted that the two incidents involve different vehicles but that the physical descriptions are similar.

“We’re not ruling out that it’s the same person,” he said.

Last September, a string of reported attempted abductions had Nevada County residents on edge; those incidents involved red pickup trucks, however.